Clean new steel with ___ before painting?

[beppington]

I bought two steel square tubes from metalsdepot.com, & it arrived with a coating of oil/ grease, I guess to keep it from rusting. I guess this is typical since the steel pieces at Home Depot all seem to be oily, too.

What should I use to clean that off before painting?

Any ol' degreaser, or ___?

Thank you

 

[Logan]

I bought two steel square tubes from metalsdepot.com, & it arrived with a coating of oil/ grease, I guess to keep it from rusting. I guess this is typical since the steel pieces at Home Depot all seem to be oily, too.

What should I use to clean that off before painting?

Any ol' degreaser, or ___?

Thank you

Laquer thinner should do it. If it is a high quality paint job then go to an auto paint shop, even NAPA should have it, and ask for a "metal prep".

 

[Gary Fowler]

Degreaser is fine for getting off the oil, but you need to put some texture to the steel prior to painting. Preferably this is with a grit blasting, but a good stiff power brushing will work also. Painting onto smooth steel surfaces doesnt give the paint anything to latch onto, therefore when it gets a little chip, large areas pop off. If you power brush, you will need to degrease before and after the brushing to do it right. I would use a commercial degreaser with a power washer then use a power brush to put the texture on it followed by a wipe down with acetone or other solvent type cleaner. Put on a good steel primer (inorganic zinc or zinc chromate is best) followed by your top coat color of your choice. You will have a painted surface that will stay with you for years.

 

[pat32rf]

laquer thinner will do it, BUT its one of the most volitile (read flamable, explosive, etc) degreasers out there....

 

[Shield Arc]

I always use a 36-grit sanding pad on a 4 1/2 inch grinder for cleanup after welding on anything I build.

 

[Johndeere3720]

I've use mineral spirits to clean off the metal prior to painting.

 

[yomax4]

Gas is the cheapest. Gas is the most dangerous. Gas is the cheapest. Gas is the most dangerous. :thumbsup:

 

[Willl]

Any ol' degreaser,

Yup.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Gas leaves a residue

 

[Willl]

Gas leaves a residue

But it'll cut through the heavy stuff to where your lighter degreaser will suffice.

But I get your point.